Sunderland AFC: Speakman and Louis-Dreyfus must take clear Dennis Cirkin action as Leeds United lurk | OneFootball

Sunderland must not allow Dennis Cirkin to leave as he could be pivotal to their promotion hopes.

Sunderland AFC are facing one of their most pivotal January windows in a long time as they bid to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Having not featured in the division since 2017, the Black Cats will be desperate to find themselves in the top tier of English football once again.

This makes a strong winter transfer window absolutely crucial, and tensions will already be running high amid reported interest from Leeds United in Dennis Cirkin.

As reported by the Sunday Mirror (November 10, page 69), via Sports View, the Whites are interested in securing somewhat of an ambitious move for the left-back's services.

Cirkin, who has been at Sunderland since August 2021, has been superb for them this season and is a firm reason why they're top of the league. Therefore, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Kristjaan Speakman must stand firm come January and snub any approaches from Daniel Farke's side.

Sunderland can ill-afford to lose Cirkin

At 22 years old, Cirkin has developed superbly since he made his move from Tottenham Hotspur's academy.

After breaking into Sunderland's first team during their 2021-22 League One promotion campaign, the defender first faced challenges securing regular game time in the Championship. Last season proved particularly frustrating, as injuries limited him to just eight appearances.

However, since Regis Le Bris arrived at the Stadium of Light, Cirkin has become a pivotal figure. In his 15 appearances this term, he has been superb, offering a heap in attack whilst remaining incredibly solid in defence.

Moreover, the lack of depth in his position makes him ever-important, with Aji Alese and Leo Hjelde being the only viable alternatives, both of whom are more comfortable playing as left-sided centre-backs.

This means losing Cirkin isn't feasible, especially given the team chasing him are promotion rivals in Leeds United.

Regardless of the transfer fee, it would be challenging to find a suitable replacement in such a short time, let alone someone who could seamlessly fit into the team.

This must see them stand firm and if Cirkin is still at the Stadium of Light come February, Sunderland will be much better placed for a tilt at promotion.

Cirkin's statistics paint a bright picture

This season, Le Bris has turned Cirkin into arguably the best left-back in the league and perhaps even one of the best defenders in the whole division.

He is quick, a brilliant passer, and is remarkably composed when receiving the ball under pressure. He regularly gets forward, ranking highly among full-backs for successful dribbles and touches in the opposition box.

However, despite all his attacking qualities, Cirkin's most impressive attributes lie in his defensive play. He ranks in the top five percent of full-backs for tackles won, interceptions, duels won, blocks, and possession regained in the final third, with several of these statistics seeing him top the charts.

This makes it no surprise that Leeds are desperate to sign the 22-year-old, as he is displaying a level which suggests he can play well above the Championship.

It is possible that other clubs, possibly in the top tier, catch sight of this and decide they will pursue a move for Cirkin. But, in a similar fashion, the Sunderland hierarchy should stand firm against any offers.

If the youngster's desire is to move on, then he should be afforded that opportunity, but not until the summer of 2025, as Cirkin could be the difference-maker for Le Bris' side.